GHP Survey Finds Voters Support UH Tier One Goal, Say Houston Quality Of Life Better Than Most Of Country

Local voters are eager to see the University of Houston become a full-fledged tier one research university. They also believe that quality of life in the Houston region is better than most other parts of the country. Those are two of the key findings from the Greater Houston Partnership's voter insight survey.

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The Greater Houston Partnership says the results from its first survey of voters validate the group's policy positions and the lobbying efforts it has invested in certain issues. One of those issues is UH's ongoing quest to gain Tier One status.

The university has already been recognized by Carnegie as a top-tier institution. But UH also needs lawmakers to pass a measure to set aside more money for the school.

The Partnership's Micah Hirschfield says voters, by a two-to-one margin, want the legislature to do what it takes to make UH's Tier One status official.

"We have fought and lobbied and advocated in the last two legislative sessions, and worked hand-in-hand with UH to help them do this. And we're getting real close, and we feel really good about how things are going on there."

Another topic the survey addressed quality of life. The specific question did not explicitly define what "quality of life" is. But the Partnership's Hirschfield says 74% of those surveyed believe the quality of life in the Greater Houston Area is better than most other parts of the country.

"It's a very broad theme, but we were very pleased to see that a significant amount, a large majority of people think that Houston has a great quality of life, and is a great place to live, work, and play."

Hirschfield says more results from the voter survey will be released in the coming weeks.